Broad hit hard by England axe | 'Confused and angrier each day'

Stuart Broad says he has been hit hard by being left out of the squad for England's tour of the West Indies, claiming he does not understand the decision and that it has made him "confused and angrier with each passing day".

Broad and James Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-takers with 1,177 victims between them, have been left out of the 16-man squad for the three-Test tour.

The selection panel comprising of Andrew Strauss and interim head coach Paul Collingwood said they were seeking a new approach after the team's 4-0 Ashes humiliation in Australia.

"I always try to find a positive in the hand that has been dealt to me," Broad wrote in a Daily Mail column.

"To be honest, though, that's been quite tricky this time because the decision to leave me out of the tour of West Indies has hit me pretty hard.

"Not to big it up too much but it has affected my sleep. I said to my partner Mollie (King) one morning that my body felt sore. She suggested that would be stress.

"No, I can't pretend I am as good as gold, because I am not. It would be wrong to act like everything's OK."

Strauss said he had spoken to Broad and Anderson after they were omitted and that he hoped they would understand the rationale behind the decision.

But Broad said: "I hopped on the Tube in London the following day and people were asking 'What on earth is going on?' I couldn't explain it. How do you?

"If anything, that compounds my frustration because if I had spoken to one person who had said they agreed with the decision to leave myself and Jimmy out, I could perhaps begin to understand. Do I believe I warrant a place in England's best team in Antigua on March 8? Of course, I do. That is why it is so difficult to comprehend."

He added: "I